Tourism industry grapples with offshore drilling issue

By MELISSA NELSONThe Associated Press

Published: Friday, October 3, 2008 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 3, 2008 at 7:49 a.m.

DESTIN - As tourism industry leaders from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle met Thursday for a summit on offshore drilling, David Mattiford cleaned his fishing charter boat on the Destin Docks nearby and explained why he would welcome the oil companies.

But for many Floridians, the question isn't so simple: while tourism is the state's top industry and relies largely on motorists hit hard by soaring gas prices, many fear the possibility of damage to the famous state's beaches if more offshore drilling is allowed.

Despite months of national debate about offshore drilling, The Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus has yet to take an official stance. Drilling advocates and anti-drilling environmentalists addressed the association's members Thursday at the summit on the issue.

Congress allowed a 26-year-old moratorium on drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire last month. But the waters off Florida's western beaches remain off limits to drilling until 2022.

Some in Congress are pushing to eliminate the no-drill zone.

But Paul Catoe, president of the Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, said the group may have waited too long to have much say in decisions by oil companies, politicians and a public that has increasingly favored drilling.

"The president, the governor, Congress and everybody has let the sun set on the issues surrounding drilling," Catoe said, referring to the moratorium that was allowed to expire in September.

Rick Tyler, a spokesman for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's American Solutions for Winning the Future - the tax-exempt political arm of Gingrich's lucrative business as a writer, pundit and consultant - told the tourism leaders that expanded offshore drilling is both safe and necessary. Tyler estimated the oil business could reap $7 billion a year for the state.

"When you start talking about all the competing needs in Tallahassee and then someone offers $7 billion a year, I think you would start some interesting conversations," he said.

<p>DESTIN - As tourism industry leaders from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle met Thursday for a summit on offshore drilling, David Mattiford cleaned his fishing charter boat on the Destin Docks nearby and explained why he would welcome the oil companies.</p><p>Oil platforms could provide perfect cover for attracting schools of fish, oil spills are easily contained with today's technology.</p><p>But for many Floridians, the question isn't so simple: while tourism is the state's top industry and relies largely on motorists hit hard by soaring gas prices, many fear the possibility of damage to the famous state's beaches if more offshore drilling is allowed.</p><p>Despite months of national debate about offshore drilling, The Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus has yet to take an official stance. Drilling advocates and anti-drilling environmentalists addressed the association's members Thursday at the summit on the issue.</p><p>Congress allowed a 26-year-old moratorium on drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire last month. But the waters off Florida's western beaches remain off limits to drilling until 2022.</p><p>Some in Congress are pushing to eliminate the no-drill zone.</p><p>But Paul Catoe, president of the Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, said the group may have waited too long to have much say in decisions by oil companies, politicians and a public that has increasingly favored drilling.</p><p>"The president, the governor, Congress and everybody has let the sun set on the issues surrounding drilling," Catoe said, referring to the moratorium that was allowed to expire in September.</p><p>Rick Tyler, a spokesman for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's American Solutions for Winning the Future - the tax-exempt political arm of Gingrich's lucrative business as a writer, pundit and consultant - told the tourism leaders that expanded offshore drilling is both safe and necessary. Tyler estimated the oil business could reap $7 billion a year for the state.</p><p>"When you start talking about all the competing needs in Tallahassee and then someone offers $7 billion a year, I think you would start some interesting conversations," he said.</p>